Science has proven that the longer an online conversation goes, the
more likely it is that someone will make a reference to Hitler.
It can start off very innocently, with two Christians on Facebook
debating the relative merits of Calvinism. But after several comments,
the innocence is usually gone, and is replaced with comments like, “I
can’t believe that you would believe in such a stupid thing like free
will! Have you ever heard of the Bible? You should try to read it
sometime.” If it keeps going, someone will inevitably say something
along the lines of, “I suppose you think Adolf Hitler didn’t have free
will either!” At that point, the conversation is officially dead in the
water.
How can we avoid dreadful conversations like that? How can we
disagree with a person on the Internet in a godly, humble, God-honoring
way? The truth is, we will give an account to God of every careless word
that we speak AND every careless word that we type. I want my online
interactions to be honoring to God. Here are a few suggestions for how
we can honor God in our online speech:
Remember That Your Opponent Is Created In the Image of God
When we’re sitting snugly behind our computers, it can be easy to
forget that the person on the other end of the conversation is a real
person. A real person who is created in the image of God and should be
respected as a fellow image bearer. A real person who has real feelings
and strengths and weaknesses. A real person whom God really, really
cares about. The words that I type will have a real effect on that
person, either good or bad. My words have the potential to build them up
or tear them down. To corrupt them or bless them. To strengthen them or
be a source of temptation to them. God will hold me accountable for the
ways in which my words affect others. Keep Reading >>>
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